Best Hikes in Hocking Hills Near Creola, Ohio

If you're planning a trip near Hocking Hills, OH and trying to figure out which hikes are actually worth your time, here's our shortlist!

1. Old Man's Cave — The One You Can't Skip

Old Man's Cave gorge with stone bridge and waterfall

Trail info: Old Man's Cave
Distance: ~1 mile loop (or extend to 6 miles via the Grandma Gatewood Trail)
Difficulty: Moderate (lots of stairs)

This is the headline hike of Hocking Hills, and it earns the reputation. The trail drops into a deep gorge past Upper Falls, winds through stone tunnels and over arched bridges, and ends at the cave itself — a long sandstone overhang where, legend has it, a hermit named Richard Rowe wintered in the early 1800s.

2. Ash Cave — Easy, Accessible, and Stunning

Ash Cave massive sandstone recess with thin waterfall

Trail info: Ash Cave
Distance: 0.5 miles round trip (paved, ADA accessible)
Difficulty: Easy

The largest recess cave in Ohio — 700 feet across and 100 feet deep. The paved gorge trail makes it doable for grandparents, strollers, and tired kids at the end of a long day. There's almost always a thin waterfall trickling off the rim, and the acoustics inside the cave are so good that the Hocking Hills Winter Hike ends here every January with a bonfire and hot chocolate.

3. Cedar Falls — Best Waterfall in the Park

Cedar Falls waterfall cascading over sandstone cliff

Trail info: Cedar Falls
Distance: 1.7 miles round trip
Difficulty: Moderate

Despite the name, there are no cedars — early settlers mistook the hemlocks. What you will find is the most powerful waterfall in Hocking Hills, especially after a spring rain. The hike down is short but steep, and the photo from the gorge floor looking up is the one everyone takes home.

4. Conkle's Hollow — Two Hikes for the Price of One

Conkle's Hollow deep narrow gorge with vertical sandstone cliffs

Trail info: Conkle's Hollow
Distance: 1 mile (Gorge Trail) or 2.5 miles (Rim Trail)
Difficulty: Easy / Moderate

A state nature preserve right next door to the main park. The flat Gorge Trail runs along the floor of one of the deepest gorges in Ohio (200 feet of vertical sandstone on either side). The Rim Trail climbs up to the cliff edge with no railings — not the one to bring kids on, but the views of the valley are the best in the park.

5. Rock House — The Only True Cave

Rock House sandstone tunnel cave with carved windows

Trail info: Rock House
Distance: 0.5 miles round trip
Difficulty: Moderate

Rock House is the only true cave in the park — a 200-foot tunnel through the cliff face with windows carved by ancient water. Native Americans used it for shelter, and 19th-century outlaws supposedly hid out here. Less crowded than the marquee trails, and a good one to tack onto an Old Man's Cave morning.

6. Cantwell Cliffs — The Quiet One

Cantwell Cliffs sandstone cliff face with autumn forest

Trail info: Cantwell Cliffs
Distance: 1.5 miles loop
Difficulty: Moderate

The northernmost section of the park, and our personal favorite for a reason: even on a busy summer Saturday, you'll have stretches of this trail to yourself. The descent into the valley goes through a narrow stone passage so tight that the locals nicknamed it "Fat Man's Misery." Worth every step.

Where to Stay: Two Cabins in Creola, 5-15 Minutes from the Trails

When you're ready, Check Availability.

Whittle Escape — For Couples

A cozy one-bedroom with a sleeping loft, private hot tub, and cedar sauna — tucked into the trees and lit by string lights. Sleeps 4, with a fire pit and EV charger. Perfect for a quiet escape after a long day on the trails.

Hill Yea! — For Girl's Weekends, Families & Pet Lovers

Sleeps 6, pet-friendly, with a fire pit, dog run, and EV charger. Bring the whole crew (dogs included).

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